As equestrians, we know that keeping our horses clean and healthy is a crucial part of their overall wellbeing. Proper bathing not only makes your horse look good, but it also helps prevent skin conditions and keeps them comfortable.
In this blog post, we'll cover everything you need to know about horse shampoos and a bathing technique.
Why Choose the Right Shampoo
Choosing the right shampoo for your horse is critical. Using the wrong one can strip your horse's coat of its natural oils, which can lead to skin irritation, dryness, and even hair loss. Moreover, not all horse shampoos are created equal. Some are designed to remove dirt and stains, while others provide extra conditioning and moisturising benefits.
Types of Horse Shampoos
Before purchasing a horse shampoo, it's essential to understand the different types and their intended uses.
Clarifying/Degreasing Shampoo
Clarifying shampoos are designed to remove dirt, sweat, and product buildup from your horse's coat. They are ideal for horses that spend a lot of time in turnout or for those that have a buildup of coat care products or have recently been clipped.
We would recommend the Horse Cleaning Degreasing Horse Shampoo
Whitening Shampoo
Whitening shampoos are designed to brighten and enhance the natural color of your horse's coat. They're especially useful for horses with white markings or grey coats.
We would recommend Horse Cleaning Whitening Shampoo
Conditioning Shampoo
Conditioning shampoos contain moisturizing ingredients that help to restore your horse's coat's natural oils, leaving it soft and shiny. They're perfect for horses with dry, brittle coats or those that need extra conditioning.
We would recommend Horse Cleaning Lime Horse Shampoo and Conditioner
All Purpose Shampoo
Our all purpose horse shampoos such as Lemon and Lime, Apple, Orange and Rhubarb are prefect for general bathing and for all horse coat colours. They are tough on dirt and grime and provide excellent all over gloss finish.
Coconut Shampoo
The Horse Cleaning Coconut Horse Shampoo is a pH-balanced horse shampoo rich in antioxidants to add extra shine for an easy to apply cleaning solution, which provides a decisive cleaning action that is still gentle enough on a horses coat.
Cherry Almond Shampoo
The Horse Cleaning Cherry Almond Horse Shampoo is a pH-balanced horse shampoo rich in antioxidants to add extra shine for an easy to apply cleaning solution, which provides a decisive cleaning action that is still gentle enough on a horses coat.
Mane And Tail Shampoo
The Horse Cleaning Mane And Tail Horse Shampoo is infused with Marula oil for less hair breakage thanks to a micro-enriched protein formula that leaves the hair soft, shiny and free-flowing. A replenishing conditioning shampoo formulation that repairs the underlying hair structure from within the individual hair strands.
Tea Tree Shampoo
The Horse Cleaning Tea Tree Horse Shampoo is a pH-balanced shampoo with added tea tree oil, a natural oil extracted from the Melaleuca Alternifolia plant. This natural product can help reduce the itchiness and dryness of a horse's coat and can help reduce the itchiness of insect bites and stings due to the oil's antiseptic properties.
Bathing Your Horse
Now that you've selected the right shampoo, it's time to give your horse a bath. Here's how to do it correctly:
Supplies
You'll need the following supplies:
- A hose or buckets of water
- A rubber curry comb
- A sponge or wash brush
- A bucket
- A towel or sweat scraper
Steps
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Brush your horse thoroughly to remove any loose dirt or debris.
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Wet your horse's coat thoroughly with a hose or buckets of water.
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Apply the shampoo of your choice, starting at the neck and working your way down. Be sure to avoid getting shampoo in your horse's eyes or ears.
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Scrub your horse's coat with a rubber curry comb or wash brush, focusing on any areas with stains or dirt buildup.
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Rinse your horse's coat thoroughly with a hose or buckets of water, making sure to remove all the shampoo.
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Use a sponge or washcloth to clean your horse's face and legs.
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Rinse your horse's face and legs thoroughly.
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Use a sweat scraper or towel to remove excess water from your horse's coat.
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Let your horse dry naturally, or use a cooler or blanket if the weather is cold.
Conclusion
Bathing your horse is an essential part of their overall health and wellbeing. By selecting the right shampoo and following the proper bathing techniques, you can keep your horse's coat clean, healthy, and shiny. Remember to always brush your horse thoroughly before bathing, avoid getting shampoo in their eyes and ears, and rinse thoroughly to remove all the shampoo.
